Thailand Beach Soccer Team Boosts Fitness for Asian Cup
Thailand’s beach soccer national team is intensifying training in Phangnga ahead of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026, after weather disruptions halted practice for two weeks. Coach Ek Sethrakornchai Chuenta has called in three new players and plans to cut the squad to 14 for a training camp before selecting the final 12. The team will face Iraq, Bahrain and Japan in group‑stage matches from November 18‑22 at the Ban Nam Kem Beach Soccer Stadium.
Coach Ek Sethrakornchai Chuenta, head coach of the Thailand beach soccer national team, is pushing his players to regain fitness after several days without training ahead of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026. The team held a training session at the Sports Authority of Thailand beach soccer field on October 8, split into morning gym work and an evening pitch session lasting about two hours. The coach said the squad was selected based on performances in the Thailand Beach Soccer Championship and the recent Asian Beach Games in China, and noted three new players—goalkeeper Watchara Hongthong, Yongyut Ngokngam and Anuchit Thanophat—have been called into camp.
He added that adverse weather, including heavy rain and flooding, had disrupted previous training plans, costing the team two weeks of practice because the pitch was unusable. Originally, the players were to rest one week after the league, but now the schedule must be accelerated, with extra fitness sessions to bring the athletes back to peak condition and restore the team’s tactical readiness.
Looking ahead, Coach Ek said the squad will be trimmed to 14 players who will continue a training camp in Phangnga before the final cut to 12 for the tournament. Selection will focus on how well players fit the team’s tactics, which will vary depending on opponents. Against Iraq, Bahrain and Japan, some matches may require more ground play while others will emphasize aerial balls, so the final 12 must be strong in all areas.
Thailand’s group‑stage matches in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026 will all be played at the Ban Nam Kem Beach Soccer Stadium in Takua Pa, Phangnga: on November 18 at 18:30 versus Iraq, November 20 at 18:30 versus Bahrain, and November 22 at 18:30 versus Japan.
